Animated sign



Dec. 28, 1937.

B. RQBERTS 2,103,300

ANIMATED S IGN Filed June 25, 19.3 7 2 Sheets-Sheet l /Ae /Iz 2(712/ 22 /e 7.24/25 e6 x27 ,2g @mi HFQ E ./3

IN V EN TOR.

Dec. 28, 193.7. B ROBERTS 2,103,300

ANIMATED SIGN Filed June 25, 1937 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 fate INVENTR.

Patented Dec. 28, 1937 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE ANIMATED SIGN Bruce Roberts, Hollywood, Calif., assigner to Frank McQuoid, Los Angeles, Calif.

Application June 25, 1937, Serial No. 150,238

8 Claims.

' cinating.

It is accordingly an object of my invention to provide a display of physical characters in sequence, such as, one letter following another in the spelling of words; this, Without the necessity of mechanisms connected to the motor of the sign. I Y

Another object ofl my invention is to provide means of assuring that the characters stay in their intended position during the operation of the sign so that it may not readily get out of order.

A further object oi my invention is to provide means wherein the characters of this sign may be readily changed or adjusted.

My invention possesses other advantages, and has other objects which may be more readily apparent from a consideration of one of the embodiments of my invention. For this purpose I have shown a form in the drawings accompanying and forming part of the present specication. I shall proceed to describe this form in detail, which illustrates the general principles of my invention; but it is to be understood that this detailed description is not to be taken in a limited sense, since the scope of my invention is best dened by the appended claims.

Referring to the drawings:

Figure 1 is a front view of a sign embodying my invention; l

Fig. 2 is a rear view thereof;

Fig. 3 is a detailed section taken along the plane 3-3 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a rear view of the sign in an operative position;

` Fig. 5 is a top plan View taken along the plane 5-5 of Fig. 4;

Fig. 6 is a detailed section taken along the plane 5-5 of Fig. 4; Fig. 7 is a vertical section taken along the plane 6-6'of Fig. 5; l

This in- Fig. 8 is a top plan view of the switch mechanism, together with a combined wiring diagram;

Fig. 9 is a view of a section embodying another form of displaying the characters; and

Fig. 10 is a vertical section taken at right angle to the plane of Fig. 9. K

The front elevation of the sign is shown in Fig. 1. It may conveniently comprise a case II,hav

ing a window I2, and a translucent lixedjsignV 10 I4. The window I2 may be of clear glass for the protection of the movable characters 20, 2|, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 21 and 28. The screen I3, (Figs. 1,

2, 3, 4, `and 7) is to hide from view other parts 15 of the mechanism.

One of the main features of the device is a detached rolling element, preferably a ball, as shown by I5, (Figs. 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, and 9 and 10). This ball rolls along a slotted track I6, (Figs. 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 9, and 10), which is supported vat an inclined plane on the back of the vertical frame member I1, in (Figs. 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, and 9).

The character holders 30, 3l, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 31, 38, 39 and 50 are pivotally journaled in their respective bushings 40, 4I, 42, 43, 44, 45, 25

43, 41, 48, 49 and 5I, which are mounted at right angles through the vertical frame I1, as shown in (Figs. 2, 3, 4, and 5). Also, in this form shown in (Figs. 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 and 7) the character holders 38, 3|, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 31, 38, 39 and 50 30 are extended at right angles to their respective bushings and are disposed in the path of the ball I5 and have free clearance through the slot in the inclined track I6. v

Fastened at the lower extremity of the inclined track I6 and onto the backof the vertical frame I1, is a driving motor capable of propelling theball 'up the inclined track to its full length.V

Preierably,'this motor shall be of the velectromagnetic type. armature disposed to strike a ball as it rolls into a position susceptible to being propelled when a switch is turned on. Such a device is practical but will not be as economical or quiet in its There is one with a moving 40 operation as the motor recommended and de- 4.5

scribed herein.

In Figs. 2, 3, 4, 5, and 7 is seen a solenoidal coil I8, in line with the inclined track I6, and fastened at its lower extremity so that-a steel ball will roll freely through the inside of this coil when propelled by the force of gravity. Disposed in the path of the ball is a movable steel iinger 53, (Figs. 2, 3, 4, 7 and 8) hinged at its lower end to the base of the sign. Properly spaced and inp terposedin the path of the moveable linger 53 55 tension 54 so that the contact points supported,

by the arm 60 and 6| are brought together.

If an electric circuit of sufficient powertis@ connected by these contact points, immediately the magnetic force set upwithinthecoil causes;

the steel ball I5, and the steel finger 53, torrush toward the center of the coll,|8. 'The current' is caused to remain on for a period because the. shuttle member 55, is held in engaged position by frictionallcontactwithIits way-51. However, at a timewhen thegsteel ball hasreachedfthe center` of the coil, the steel finger 53, also has arrived at` a point to strike'theextension 51|,` of `the shuttle member 56'-,- which-when moved,`disengages ,thef contact' points supported Vby the. contact arms 56|)Y and 6I, causing the current toY begturnedY oi. During the,periodthegballhastravelled from the outside to thecenter of-the coil itzgains enough momentum to continue to the upper endof thetrack, assuming the character holders-arem a raisedposition. a

Itmay be seen that'withthe'use of alternating currentof commercial frequency that 11 the relaf tionship of the speed of the ball anditsdista-nceof travelzwill -be such asV tov causeslightly varying forces-vto beapplied to it. To overcomeA an oc# casionalextra hard shock at'the upper end ofthe track, a shock; absorber of 1 ay pendulum type 52', (Figs. 2 and 4) isused.Y

The extended portionof ther-'character holders dispose'din the path of the ball vareiformed with a tongue, and recessl` arrangement; in f alternate sequence, as shownA in (Figs. 5 Vand 6). These` extensionsare alloflthe same length exceptgtheone nearest the motor,;5- and areal] imountedin their-bushings inline andfare equally spaced. The length ofeach,extension is more than the distance between each point offsuspension andnot more thanthe distance between two such suspension points.

A1y description `,ofsuch parts whose functionfmay be independently-related Ahasbeerrgiven; YAnd I apparentjduring; the operationof the sign;l VClon-V siderl the sign in a f position in which the letters are fall out of displayposition (Fig. 2f) Byvplacing-ftheball I5, at thefupper end of theginclined track. |6the force` of gravity causes it to roll alongA the tracktoward its lower; end.; Disposed inits pathisthe extension 65 of the-trigger ele, ment` SI5A hinged in journals-6`|-and68-- Thefat spring-GZ-is sufficiently flexible to allow the arm 65'to.giveway and the trigger -shaftABS- to turn and recede without stopping the ball. Theball continuesdow-n-thetrack running against the eX- tensionof the character holder 3D which'together with the character-20are of light weight. The ball beingcomparativelyheavyj` and the pitch of the` track oisuiicient grade will causethe character holder 3|Jfto pivot in itsjournal 4Il'and bring the Character-ZIl-into display-position.- Y

' Since therextension of the' holder. 30- is swung in anarc, itstonguetpassesthroughthe recess 'I0 of the holder extension 3|,.seen in (Fig. 6). And While the ball is still pressing the holder 30 upward, it moves the holder 3| in the same manner in which the holder 30 is moved, bringing into display the character 2|.

' While the holder 30 is still being held up by the presence of the ball and the holder 3| is swung into its respective arc, the recessed portion of the holder 3| moves out of range of the tongue of v[the holder 3D'. Thevvball going further down the track causes the portion ofthe shank of the holder 3|, which is not recessed, to come up under the tongue of the holder 30, and hold it up after "the ball has passed contact with the holder 30. I t may beseen that the same relationship betweemthe ho1ders3c| and 32 will occur as occurred between the holders 30 and 3|. And as eachzholderlextension is successively moved from the path of the ball it will pivotally turn and bring its respective character successively into display, and .that eaohholderj will holdinposition the .holder which .precededit Asthe ball fproceeds frorn theupper end ofthe -As the ball continues to roll down theV track it.

urgesrbefore it the characterholders in succession, which.are heldin. aflateral position-by their interlockingV action and y.more particularly, by the last character holder. y

As it is a1 further objectof the sign that the characters shall stayin display positionfor aperiodand then 'simultaneously-recede from view, a trigger element, 66, With extended arms, 65 and I9, isprovided (Figs. 2 and.4), and pivotally fastened at the side of the track I6 in journals 61 andSS.

Thel arm I9 (FigsvZ/ and '7) is provided Ywith Y aspring 62- and acatch 64, angularly and properly attached theretovand disposed a` short dis'- tance in the path of the character'holder 59. When. the -ballrurges the holder 5|Jvin its arc and passesI beneathits extended tip, the shank of the holder 5|lis. caughtv and sustained above the catch fill.` `This causes all thev character holders and their characters to remainin a co-extended' position after4 the ball'has passed contact and has rolled into the coil. Y Y Y The action ofthe motor, Ywhich has; been described, ta-kes place and causesthe' ballfto'` roll back. upV the track" sincev no. obstructions willtbe i'nits path-.until it again passesfthe arm 65; of

the element. 66. In'so doing, the'l trigger element is pivoted carrying thef'arrn Illandv its catch 64 away from the plane of, operation of the character holder 50. This holder beingf released is drawn by the force of gravity-intoitsvoriginal position, as are-eachrof the characters; in immediate reverse succession, producing an apparent simule taneous recession of characters.

Thus, it may seen that the sign is in the same position as it was prior to its cycle of operation and thatthe ba-llis subject to gravity as before, and, in summary: will roll down the track causing the characters to come into display in succession; While the trigger element holds the lastand consequently, all thacharactersaand holders in position: the ball rolls into the motor and is propelled backup the track. during which time-'fthe characters will be collectively lheldin'1 display--and the holders free and clear for the upward passage of the ball. After tripping the trigger at its upper extension, the characters simultaneously recede and the ball is stopped at the end of the track and again repeats the cycle.

Any suitable means may be employed to attach the characters to the character holders, such as a tongue and slot arrangement. In case the charactersthemselves are longer than the spaces between them they may be journaled away from the plane of their axis so that they recede in orderly arrangement without interference, as seen in Fig. 3. It is not intended to confine the nature of the characters to letters as it may be seen that they might easily be comprised of many other types of characters, such as figure cut-outs or numerals.

In Figs. 9 and 1G, I illustrate another embodiment of my invention, in which the axis upon which the character holders turn are in the plane of the vertical frame. Referring to these figures is illustrated a plurality of character holders, 25A, 22A and 23A, journaled in this manner. Each rear extension of eachl character holder is disposed in the path of the ball, below its center axis and is so shaped as to have a tab, similar to 23A (Fig. 9), which is covered and held in position by the succeeding character holder as it comes into position after the ball has passed over it. The track 16A has a larger recess than the slot in the track iE of the previous illustration. A trigger arrangement,`holding and releasing the last character holder, is used in a like manner as in the embodiment of my invention previously illustrated.

A suitable means of illuminating the sign is used illustrated by electric lamps, S3, 63, (Figs. and '7) It is understood that the Aembodiment of the y invention described herein is only one of the many embodiments this invention may take, and I do not wish to be limited in the practise of the invention, nor in the claims, to the particular embodiment set forth.

What I claim is:

1. In an animated sign, a fixed frame, a plurality of movable characters, individually journaled to the frame so as 'to come into and out of display position, means of consecutively bringing the characters into display position, means of collectively retaining the characters in display position, and a means of simultaneously removing the characters from display position.

2. In an animated sign, a plurality of moveable characters, individually pivoted to come into and out of display position and disposed in the path of a detached rolling element, a detached rolling element, a motor to propel the detached rolling element, means of successively bringing the characters into display position, means of collectively retaining the characters in display position, means of unlocking the character holders and collectively removing the characters from display position.

4. In an animated sign, a plurality of changeable characters, a plurality of pivotally supported character holders, a ball, an inclined track for the ball, a motor to propel the ball, means for consecutively bringing the characters into display position, means for simultaneously removing the characters from display position.

5. In an animated sign, an inclined track, a rolling element to roll thereon, pivotally mounted and interlockable character holders disposed in the. path of and moveable by the rolling element, changeable characters attached to the character holders, a trigger element to sustain and release all the character holders actuated by the rolling element, and ah electro-magnetic motor to propel the rolling element up the inclined track,

6. In anV animated sign, van electric motive mechanism comprising a ferrous rolling element, a solenoidal coil capable of being freelytransversed by the rolling element, contacts actuated by a shuttle mechanism to control the coil, a moveable finger controlling the shuttle mechamsm, allowing the rolling element to move to an extreme position within the coil before being energized and to eifect the contacts so that the energy` endures until the rolling element reaches the center of the coil.

'7. In an animated sign, electro-magnetic means to propel a ball, an inclined track for the ball to roll on, pivotally journaled character holders disposed in the path of the ball, changeable characters attached to the character holders, relief display means surrounding all the characters,

means of urging the characters in and out of display. l

8. In an animated sign, a fixed frame, a plurality of character holders pivotally journaledY thereto, a plurality of changeable characters attached to the characters, extensions ofthe character holders disposed in the path of a ferrous ball, an inclined track, a ferrous ball toroll on `the track, a solenoidal coil arranged to directly propel the ferrous ball, a switch mechanism'to control the solenoidal coil, a trigger element to retain and release the characters and holders in and out of display position.V

BRUCE- ROBERTS. 

